It’s that time of the year again when runny nose season has already arrived. However, for some people, runny noses are a year-round struggle due to allergies. In fact, an estimated 25-40% of people worldwide are affected by allergic rhinitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the nose’s mucous membranes.
So, what’s behind this constant sniffing? Scientists may have an answer: individuals with allergies harbor a variety of fungi in their noses.
Despite this discovery, the presence of any fungus in our noses is quickly countered by our immune system. We all have fungi in our nasal mycobiome, a diverse community of fungal microorganisms that reside in our nostrils and sinuses, contributing to our overall microbial diversity essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and fighting off harmful pathogens.
In a study on nasal mycobiome, researchers collected nasal swabs from 214 allergic patients and 125 healthy individuals. The swabs showed significant differences in the prevalence and diversity of nasal fungi between the two groups, with allergic patients exhibiting more abundant and diverse mycobiomes.
“These findings suggest that the nasal cavity serves as a reservoir for fungi that may contribute to allergic rhinitis,” said Dr. Luis Delgado, a Professor at the University of Porto, Portugal, and one of the authors of a new study published in 2006 in the journal Frontiers of Microbiology.
The study also identified specific metabolic pathways more common in the fungal communities of allergic rhinitis patients, potentially paving the way for future allergy treatments.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
